Top sustainability news headlines from around the world.
Every day, we’ll add a few stories we find interesting. Come here for the latest sustainability news… hand-picked and curated by our Editorial Team.
February 22-28 2021
US power sector emissions fell 38% in past 15 years, blowing past Obama climate targets: Report
The U.S. power sector has already slashed more emissions than what would have been required by the Obama administration’s climate mandate.
Will jobs! jobs! more jobs! make free-market case for climate action? » Yale Climate Connections
Will capitalism, and free-market forces (and emphasis on more jobs?) supplant political expediency as a major factor in advancing bipartisan support for renewable energy?
Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic – Inside Climate News
Since the end of the last ice age, a swirling system of ocean-spanning currents has churned consistently in the Atlantic, distributing heat energy along the ocean surface from the tropics toward the poles, with heavy, cold water slowly flowing back toward the equator along the bottom of the sea. Col…
Earth’s long-term climate stabilized by clouds
Reduced planetary albedo due to fewer low clouds on early Earth could explain some 40% of the required forcing to offset the faint young Sun, according to global climate model experiments.
“Science-based” corporate climate targets are no such thing, says former advisor
As the number of businesses setting ‘science-based’ targets surges, experts are calling for more transparency over how those numbers are calculated
Midcoasters say $90M natural gas line expansion isn’t aligned with state climate change plan
The midcoast does not currently have natural gas service, but at a virtual forum on the project Tuesday night, dozens in the region said they don’t want it.
The Weekly Planet: The Great Climate Bill of 2021 Is Being Shaped Now
The game before the game has started.
Possible irreversible changes to sub-systems prior to reaching climate change tipping points
Recently a pair of researchers with the University of Copenhagen published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing their work looking into the possibility of changes to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the circumstances that could lead to s…
UNA faces the enormous challenge of changing Almeria’s agricultural sustainability model
Almeria’s Union of Agricultural Producers (UNA) was established in April 2019 to manage the foundation of a new exploitation model in the Almeria countryside and the southeast of the peninsula.
Small and medium-sized producers, mai…
Small and medium-sized producers, mai…
‘Mercury Stories: Understanding Sustainability through a Volatile Element’
‘Mercury Stories’ by Henrik Selin and Noelle E. Selin, a new MIT PRESS book, is an interdisciplinary analysis of human interactions with mercury through history that sheds light on efforts to promote and achieve sustainability.
AB InBev Signs Record $10.1 Billion ESG-Linked Facility
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, maker of beer brands Budweiser and Stella Artois, has signed a $10.1 billion debt facility that costs more to service if the company falls short on a set of sustainability targets.
Consumer interest in sustainability is still growing
More shoppers are linking social concerns to environmental threats.
Ireland one of top nations for fairness and sustainability
Ireland has been rated as one of the most progressive countries in the world in transitioning towards an equitable, fair and sustainable society, according to a new international study.The Transitions
February 15-21 2021
“Disasters Within Disaster” – Death Toll Rises To 30 As Texas Energy Crisis Hits Sixth Day
The cascading effects of days without power have effectively transformed some parts of Texas into a third-world country.
Bill Gates says “we need hundreds of Elon Musks”
With Tesla, Elon Musk has helped electric cars become more mainstream.
Billionaires’ Favorite Climate Solution Is a Dangerous Distraction
An Elon Musk tweet can do everything from moving the stock market to convincing people to invest in a joke cryptocurrency. So when the richest man on Earth tweeted in late January about kicking $100 million to whoever could come up with the best technology to capture carbon from the air, the world t…
Climate change is fueling recruitment into armed groups
Research has repeatedly highlighted how climatic shifts contribute to fragility and undermine livelihoods and new data shows how this has created conditions that are conducive to the growth of armed groups.
Citing climate emergency, California Democrats introduce a bill to ban fracking by 2027
Feb. 17—California would ban hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, by 2027, under a bill introduced in the State Senate on Wednesday. The bill, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, also would prohibit the issuance of new permits for frackin…
Yard Stick provides measurement technology to combat climate change – TechCrunch
The solution to the world’s climate change problems could be under our feet. But you can’t manage something until you can measure it, and that’s where Yard Stick comes in.
Teenagers Deserve a Place at Biden’s Climate Table
Including activists from the Sunrise Movement and elsewhere could improve the president’s climate policy while energizing the youth vote.
Climate elites should check their privilege
Private jets, yacht parties, fancy receptions, and award ceremonies — I’m sure you can conjure up an image of what this lifestyle may look like and who lives it. While you may have envisioned Hollywood actors, pop stars, or Silicon Valley tech giants, I’m actually describing another demographic:…
Climate change: Why Norway, the UK and Canada are climate hypocrites
In Oslo, street lamps are powered by renewables. To conserve energy, the smart lights dim when nobody is around. The Norwegian capital, like the rest of the country, is proud of its exceptional green credentials. Its public transportation system too is powered entirely by renewable energy. Two third…
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Fights Over Indian Farm Laws Ignore Green Revolution’s Climate And Economic Problems
Green revolution saved India from hunger but is causing economic and ecological problems. Neither the government nor protesters offer a plan for farmers to grow less rice in water stressed regions. What is required is a just transition to a new ecologically sustainable farming model.
Climate change killed off mammoths, sloths, megafauna
In a new study, researchers used statistical analysis to show climate change was the primary driver of the disappearance of North America’s largest species, including mammoths and giant sloths.
What is Next in Business Aviation: A Move Towards Sustainability or Supersonic Flight?
Historically speaking, aviation has always been a gas-guzzling business. As the world demands a new and more sustainable approach to travel, industry, and everyday life, the aviation sector refuses to be left behind. While major aircraft companies like Airbus and Boeing focus on minimising fuel …
Intel – Getting Smart Begins with Data
Jeff Klaus, General Manager of Intel® Data Center Management Solutions, on sustainability, data centres, data and smart business
3M proposes $1 billion in investments toward reaching sustainability goals – Chemical Engineering
3M (St. Paul, Minn.) announced it expects to invest approximately $1 billion over the next 20 years to accelerate new environmental goals: achieve carbon
Could the Focus on Sustainability Help Drive the Graphene Market?
Graphene is a material that has been touted for several market sectors and applications. Graphene has many excellent properties, such as its electrical conductivity and tensile strength. While these are important reasons for using graphene in different applications, how we produce and integrate grap
Music industry sustainability: ‘Every little thing matters’ – Music Ally
Friday’s episode of the Music Ally TV Show was really interesting: an exploration of the music industry and environmental sustainability. “It’s more than just the right thing to do: it’s an essential business obligation,” said Dr Allen Hershkowitz, one of the world’s authorities on this area.
New WVU biology study of trees has implications for future climate change predictions
Scientists have long known that trees are essential to human life, making the air we breathe healthier by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis to store energy and
Climate activist Disha Ravi arrested in India over farmers’ protest ‘toolkit’
Supporters of a young climate activist arrested in India over a farmers’ protest “toolkit,” later shared by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have called for her release.
February 8-14 2021
Turtles Worldwide Vulnerable Due to Climate Change, Habitat Loss
Climate change and habitat destruction have left turtles worldwide vulnerable, according to a recent study by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher
‘Global Vaccine Apartheid’ Is Also a Climate Warning
The covid-19 vaccination effort is finally achieving liftoff in the U.S. In the days since we highlighted the case for optimism about the pandemic ending, data collected by Bloomberg shows 2 million more Americans have received a shot.
Now in a minority position, how will Wyoming’s delegation respond to Biden’s aggressive climate plans?
The sway Wyoming enjoyed in Washington under Trump has dwindled. But the state’s congressional delegation plans to fight back.
EPA to jettison major Obama climate rule, as Biden eyes a bigger push
The Clean Power Plan had been tied up in litigation, then replaced by President Donald Trump.
Russia’s Lavrov holds climate talks with U.S. envoy Kerry amid sanctions concerns
Russia’s Lavrov holds climate talks with U.S. envoy Kerry amid sanctions concerns
Daybreak Feb 12: Boozman: Climate policy threatens farm bill
There are new signs of division on the Senate Agriculture Committee when it comes to climate change. The committee’s top Republican, John Boozman, told members of the National Cotton Council Thursday that funding to address climate change could come out of existing farm bill programs.
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Salmon: Why Climate Change Matters
“So, you can eat wild salmon to your hearts content if you can find it and afford it” – Mark Kurlansky
Bill Gates: Climate Change Challenge “Is Way Greater Than The Pandemic”
In an interview that will air Sunday on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Bill Gates will discuss how climate change is a “way greater” challenge than COVID-19, saying “the amount of change, new ideas, is way greater than the pandemic.” “And it needs a level of cooperation that would be unprecedented,” Gates sai…
China Hints at a Shift on Climate
A rare public rebuke of the energy agency signals to some that environmental regulators have been empowered to counter the coal industry.
Yellen reportedly looking to name new climate ‘czar’ at Treasury
Yellen reportedly is eyeing Sarah Bloom Raskin, former deputy Treasury secretary during Barack Obama’s presidency, to tackle the role.
US is falling behind its peers in moving away from fossil fuels and tackling climate change: report
The Green Future Index ranks countries in their commitments to shifting society to a low-carbon future.
Oil spill at Chevron Refinery in Richmond contained, clean-up underway
Hazardous Materials crews are responding to a report of an oil spill near the Chevron Refinery in Richmond on Monday afternoon, according to the Contra Costa Health Services.
‘I’m really scared’: Neighbors sound off after 600-gallon oil spill near Richmond’s Chevron refinery
CHEVRON OIL SPILL: A county official says close to 600 gallons flowed into the Bay. He also says “petroleum washed ashore along South Richmond shoreline which will harm wildlife and marine life.”
600 gallons of petroleum spills into San Francisco Bay at Chevron refinery
The spill was discovered at 3 p.m. Tuesday when a sheen was observed on the water, according to joint statements from federal, state and local agencies and Chevron.
How Queen Elizabeth II stands to reap billions from big oil’s sustainability push
Queen Elizabeth II will be a major, if unlikely, beneficiary of big oil’s latest push to diversify toward a more sustainable future.
JP Morgan hires Chuka Umunna for senior sustainability role
The 42-year-old former Labour MP is given European position by US bank
How the Pandemic Shaped Sustainability Goals for Commercial Buildings
Last year provided many unforeseen challenges for the building management industry; despite it all, sustainability commitments stayed steady. But we must seize the opportunity to shift the narrative in the energy industry away from efficiency, towards continuous optimization.
BP and Rosneft Sign Sustainability Deal
BP (NYSE: BP) and Rosneft Oil Company have signed a strategic collaboration agreement focused on supporting the carbon management and sustainability activities of both companies.
FIS – Worldnews in Brief – Other Media | MundoAcuicola: Sernapesca triumphs in Courts in defense of fisheries and aquaculture sustainability –
Other Media | MundoAcuicola: Sernapesca triumphs in Courts in defense of fisheries and aquaculture sustainability
February 1-7 2021
Bioplastics in the sustainability dilemma: Scientists investigate the factors affecting the global land use impacts and CO2 emissions of plant-based plastics
Scientists found that the sustainability of plant-based bioplastics depends largely on the country of origin, its trade relationships and the raw material processed.
^REALLY INTERESTING
What new Amazon CEO Andy Jassy needs to do to become a leader in sustainability like Apple
Few ESG funds own Amazon stock because of its poor record on labor, workplace issues and corporate competition.
^Don’t know if I would call Apple a sustainability leader, but good read about what Amazon needs to do to get on a ESG fund.
NASA Names Its First Climate Advisor
Gavin Schmidt, an expert in climate modeling, will help ensure the Biden Administration has crucial data to inform its emissions reduction goals
The Energy 202: How Democrats may try getting around the filibuster on climate change
Some are eyeing the next budget process to pass a major piece of President Biden’s climate agenda.
Peru: How climate change threatens a city with ‘glacial flood’
The worldwide retreat of mountain glaciers is one of the most visible impacts of climate change. In the wake of receding glaciers, thousands of lakes have formed and expanded.
Bridgestone Issues Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility
Bridgestone Americas Inc. has issued a $1.1 billion “sustainability-linked” credit facility, which the company calls one of the first of its kind in the United States tire industry.
What is Bitcoin and Is It Too Late to Get Started? | ONE37pm
If you’ve been afraid to get involved with Bitcoin, we’ve got you covered. This is everything you need to know to get started.
World – Opinion: On deep-sea mining, climate change, and the guidelines needed to ensure ocean sustainability
I have followed the ongoing tug of war between opposing sides of the deep-sea mining debate and was waiting for someone to offer the third side of the story. Then I came across the first response from one of the small island nations when the newly elected prime minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Bro…
Generation 2030: Vegetarianism: Should We Rethink its Role in Sustainability? | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD
Tracking the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda
New evidence that Big Tech is ‘MIA’ on climate policy
Big Tech’s failure to show up matters — all hands need to be on deck in the climate fight.
Sustainability benchmarks for plastics recycling and redesign
Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Council Post: Sustainability In The Cannabis Industry: Truly Going Green
Ironically, the cannabis industry isn’t as “green” as you might expect.
Biden’s climate steps could have big impact on energy firms
President Joe Biden has put his team to work reviewing dozens of actions taken by former President Donald Trump, aiming to reverse orders that he says harm the environment or endanger public health.
UK’s Johnson to chair U.N. meeting on climate security
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to chair a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Feb. 23 looking at the links between climate change and conflict and prevention measures, his U.N. ambassador said on Monday.
Adventure Travel conference to tackle recovery and sustainability
Virtual Adventure Travel Networking conference takes place this week
Sustainability in Hollywood Backslides Amid COVID: “It’s Everything We Told Everybody Not to Do All These Years”
While plastic waste explodes amid the pandemic, remote work has reduced greenhouse gas emissions and many companies are embracing such practices as paperless call sheets and LED-battery generators.
January 2021
Biden Just Linked Climate and Security. Next Comes Military Money
Despite the flood of new resources, climate activists remain wary.
The snowy owl spotted in Central Park is an at-risk species thanks to climate change
“Many of us who work with snowy owls would argue that they are one of the three or four species … at most immediate and direct threat from climate change,” said the co-founder of a snowy owl tracking initiative.
GM Sustainability Manager on How Carmaker Will Be Carbon Neutral by 2040
Geraldine Barnuevo, , environmental strategies and sustainability senior manager at GM, spoke to Cheddar about what’s in store for the automaker following its big pledge to go carbon neutral by 2040.
MIT convenes influential industry leaders in the fight against climate change
MIT has announced the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC), which convenes influential industry leaders from a broad range of industries with the aim of vastly accelerating shared solutions to address climate change.
How R/WallStreetBets and Reddit Broke the Internet // ONE37pm
It’s been the biggest story of the last few days, but how did R/WallStreetBets, a group based on Reddit, outsmart Wall Street? Let’s take a look.
Fidelity launches ESG friendly tool for advisers – InvestmentNews
Fidelity’s new technology tool is designed to help advisers create ESG model portfolios and engage clients with impact investing
Day traders wreak havoc on hedge fund bets, Wall Street dips, BlackRock’s progress on sustainability
News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication
Is Sustainability a Key Driver for Emerging Graphene Markets? | BDC Magazine
The market for graphene is at a tipping point, with long periods of R&D now starting to translate into significant purchase orders. For a long time, the graphene market was overwhelmingly driven by a ‘materials push’ whereby graphene firms worked hard to persuade markets of the properties and benefi…
McCormick tops food companies in sustainability rankings
Corporate Knights places the flavor company at No. 6 overall in its annual list.
Exxon planning changes to board, sustainability measures amid activist pressure
Exxon Mobil Corp. is preparing to make changes to its board and adopt further measures to reduce its carbon footprint as the beleaguered energy giant faces…
Biden administration to unveil more climate policies, urges China to toughen emissions target
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration next week will release more policies it believes are needed to tackle climate change and is urging China to toughen one of its targets on greenhouse gas emissions, his top climate advisers said on Saturday.
The Booze Industry Wants to Sell You on Sustainability
It’s an ambitious, multi-faceted and chaotic march to eco-consciousness
FINANCE: ‘Enormously big deal’: Fed creates climate committee
The Federal Reserve announced yesterday the creation of a first-of-its-kind committee to deepen the central bank’s understanding of the risks that climate change poses to the financial system.
Biden pitching a much vaster climate plan than Obama ever attempted
Climate activists celebrate “major step forward,” while oil industry warns of costs.
New U.S. Strategy Would Quickly Free Billions in Climate Funds
Emergency management officials aim to funnel up to $10 billion into preventing climate disasters. The plan “would dwarf all previous grant programs of its kind,” one analyst said.
UN global climate poll: ‘The people’s voice is clear – they want action’
Biggest ever climate change survey finds two-thirds of people think climate change is a global emergency
BlackRock Chief Pushes a Big New Climate Goal for the Corporate World
Larry Fink is using his firm’s huge influence to pressure companies to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Commission launches plans for EU sustainability ‘code of conduct’ for food businesses
The European Commission has taken its first steps towards launching a ‘code of conduct’ for actors along the food chain, as part of its aim to increase the sustainability of the food system.
Manufacturers struggle to meet sustainability goals
The manufacturing industry is making good progress in terms of setting sustainability plans, but there’s work to do to achieve them.
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What Gets Measured Gets Managed: How Sustainability Reporting Can Help Save The Planet
The answer at which they arrived first appears as rather dry: metrics and disclosures. But fueled by the knowledge that “what gets measured gets managed”
Study shows ocean sustainability efforts are working
There is good news about the world’s oceans. It comes from University of Washington researchers and the journal “Nature Sustainability.” A new scientific article in the journal begins, “Well-designed management
New tool for assessing the benefits, risks and sustainability of the consumption of fish
Researchers from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili’s (Tarragona/Spain) research group TecnATox have optimized the website FishChoice, which helps to consume fish and seafood in a sustainable fashion and not just maximize benefits and minimize risks. The tool has been developed in the framework of a p…
A review of 100 studies crushes assumptions about conflict between profit and sustainability
Going green can keep businesses in the black
Let’s rethink water investments with sustainability and resilience in mind
Now is the time to prioritize upgrading the region’s aging infrastructure, writes Darren Olson of Christopher B. Burke Engineering.
About Sustainability News
Sustainability News keeps you informed. We’ll share stories from diverse perspectives to filter out the spin. Think of it as a ‘Drudge Report‘ for sustainability headlines.
Sustainable Review does not write current news. Our original content is insightful and informative about sustainability trends… but it’s not news. With that in mind, we created a curated list of headlines for readers to get quick news updates.
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